Do you ever feel like that sometimes?
Last night I was sitting at the kitchen table with my computer, trying to work something through. I'm at one of those plot point blocks where I have to figure something out before I can move on in the MS, and its taking some time and thought to figure that something out. I was sitting and staring at my screen (ah the life of a writer) and something about the font on the screen and my pj's and cereal bowl and all of it was just kind of like, what is it that makes me want to do this? I was just kind of intrigued and entertained that this is my choice of life.
And you know what, it totally is. Writers block is scary. Being weird is scary. All the publishing and marketing we writers have to do for ourselves is scary. Rejection is scary. So I think 'What have I gotten myself into?' *gulp* is a totally legitimate question, and don't be ashamed if you feel that way sometimes, because I think we all do.
We get ourselves into this mess because, to quote Shakespeare, its freaking amazing. Words are amazing, and the fact that we're making them is amazing. The fact that we're putting our brains somewhere where people can see them and read them and discuss and even change because of them is amazing. The effort feels good and pays off. Pajama's feel good. The publicity and marketing is fun and challenging and exciting. Believe it or not, I mean that genuinely.
Yes its scary. Yes you feel blocked and lonely and invalidated sometimes. But for all that, I wouldn't change it for anything in the world.
Sarah Allen
8 comments:
You and I were on a similar wavelength. What have we gotten ourselves into? Following our dreams. Sticking with something even though it would be so easy to back out. Lonely or invalidating -the world needs writers. Great job hanging in there.
I feel like this on a daily basis. I would probably miss it if I stopped feeling like it :-)
You, and Shakespeare, couldn't have said it better.
I think this is a great job, even in the difficult times. Any job you have, if you try your hardest, will be difficult at times. But as you said, look at the amazing things we can accomplish if we push through the hard times.
Personally, I see it every time my son, who isn't crazy about reading, picks up a book and reads until I make him put it down.
Life is good :)
I completely agree with what you've said. Sometimes I just sit there and think 'why am I doing this again?' but when I really stop and think about it, there is nothing else in the world I would rather be doing.
http://the-creationofbeauty.blogspot.com
I LOVE that movie! (Stranger Than Fiction). Just had to say that. I can understand the "why am I doing this" feeling--don't blame you there! It's odd that we as writers write. But we love it, so we keep going. :) Rah!
I've always believed that the most meaningful things in life are meant to be difficult so that we can better appreciate the outcomes, successes and even failures of our actions. So when things become hard and I'm feeling discouraged, I remind myself that just because I love writing so much does not make it different than any other thing in life. If it were easy all of the time, it wouldn't be nearly as important to us.
So thanks for the reminder that we all suffer those moments when we have to ask ourselves just what it is that we think we're doing.
~Lacey~
http://myinner-i.blogspot.com/
Sometimes when I get a little bit stuck, I fall back on dialog and back story. Character in a bind? A paragraph or two from their history lets you think through the problem with them.
I was so blocked for several months up until a week or so ago. I noticed this recent block came about after a few really stressful situations involving my family.
I decided to just go with it and see where a lot of resting, eating, watching TV, reading, and cooking would lead. After this sabbatical, I got so many new directions for my writing.
And I wonder all the time why I do what I do and wonder why I'm like I am. Interesting post.
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